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Target Systematically Reducing PVC
Target, the fifth largest retailer in the U.S. with $59 billion in revenues a year, has committed to systematically reduce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic in products and packaging sold by the retailer. This represents a major market shift away from PVC that will have enormous health and environmental benefits. Target made this commitment after the Center for Health, Environment and Justice and a coalition of health and environmental organizations launched a national campaign encouraging the company to phase out PVC. The company joins Wal-Mart and many other companies in phasing out or reducing PVC.
Target is, “intensively assessing our use of PVC and the viability of alternatives and actively pursuing opportunities, in collaboration with our vendors, to reduce PVC in our products and packaging”. The priorities they are focusing on are PVC in infant products, toys, shower curtains, packaging, and fashion accessories. Their initial focus is their own private label products but Target will also be partnering with brand name products and packaging vendors to identify viable alternatives.
Examples of Target’s new policy in action:
- Identifying PVC in products and packaging sold in their stores: The company is investigating which products contain or are packaged in PVC to identify priorities for phase out.
- Reducing PVC in infant products and children’s toys: All children’s eating utensils and lunchboxes are now PVC-free. All baby bibs will be PVC-free by January 2008. The company is phasing out phthalates in most of their toys by Fall 2008. They are also eliminating phthalates in baby changing tables by January 2008.
- Significantly reducing PVC in shower curtains: They are significantly reducing their sale of PVC shower curtains by offering more shower curtains out of cloth and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a safer PVC-free plastic. They expect to be 88% PVC free by Spring 2008.
- Reducing PVC in placemats, table linens, and coolers: Target will be 96% PVC-free in their placemat and table linen categories by Spring 2008. All Target soft-sided coolers are now PVC-free.
- Reducing PVC in packaging: Target is reducing PVC packaging in the company’s Target brand dinnerware, travel accessories, toys and sporting goods. For food packaging, Target has a requirement in place to avoid the use of PVC when possible. In the media category (clamshells/blisters in electronics), Target is replacing the PVC clamshell with a modified paperboard/plastic packaging. For instance, iPod carrying cases sold at Target are being packaged in PVC-free packaging. The company is also asking their vendors to reduce the amount of packaging on their products and use materials that are easily recyclable.
- Educating purchasers about PVC hazards: The company has developed a “sustainable products guide” that’s being “developed to educate internal product designers, sourcing specialist and merchants about sustainable products, and to help them identify suppliers who are committed to the principles of sustainable design. This guide addresses general principles of sustainable design and specific environmental considerations associated with forest and paper products and PVC plastics. It will be expanded in the future to address other product-specific issues.”
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